“It was a horrible, horrible time. But from our point of view, Virgin has come out, if you look at it, our brand is now stronger than in 2019.”
Branson has made little of his opposition to Brexit. In the past, it has been described as a “multigenerational disaster.” However, he refrains from saying that the current cost-of-living crisis in the UK, with rising inflation outpacing the continent’s countries, is a “I’ve already told you” moment.
“I have made it clear that I believe that the United Kingdom will suffer for not being part of Europe,” he said.
“I still think so, we’ll let history decide whether or not.”
At an event in central Austin, a day after our interview, he can’t help but have a pop at the ministers for the impending industrial action on the British railways.
After being at the forefront of privatization, Virgin launched its last rail service in December 2019 after it was considered that its bid to run the West Coast line had breached the tender rules.
“We transformed the British rail network, the staff had loved working for Virgin,” he says, shortly after kissing the shoe of a British journalist whose bag Virgin Atlantic had lost on the inaugural flight. “I notice the staff is about to go on strike … That wouldn’t have happened when Virgin was running it.”
These days, Branson is arguably the most outspoken about Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron attacked for calling for Russia not to be humiliated. Branson responded, calling the comments “insensitive and wrong” on Twitter.
“I was critical of him [Macron] used, “he says.” I was definitely surprised that he used that word because, you know, because I think when you’re in a war situation, everything has to be very clear.
“If you go back to World War II, if you had been living in London, like De Gaulle, it was black and white: you wanted the Germans to be from France. And I think it should be black and white until the Ukrainians decide otherwise.
“What Putin has brought to the world is unforgivable. Not only is Ukraine at risk. It’s Poland, there are so many potential countries that could be at risk if we don’t stand firm.”
Branson says he is in regular contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He hoped that ‘The Elders’, a non-governmental organization founded by Nelson Mandela and funded by Branson, could have prevented the outbreak of hostilities in the first place.
“I talked to him [Zelensky] before the invasion on a couple of occasions because we have an organization called The Elders trying to stop the conflicts.
“It simply came to our notice then.
“I spoke to him the day after the invasion. He contacted us to find out if we would consider it. Donbas region. And now we’re looking to do something in Poland. “
Ukraine aside, Branson is obviously in a better place and determined to leave a couple of difficult years behind.
“It’s one of the most satisfying moments of my life, having the team [at Virgin Atlantic] confuse everyone, “he says.
He suggests that Virgin Atlantic, the cornerstone of Branson’s empire, is still flying at all. Well-known brands such as Pan-Am, Trans World Airlines and British Caledonian have been on the road since the first flight took off from Gatwick so many years ago.
“If I go back 38 years on the opening flight of Virgin Atlantic and I just remember sitting there looking at the cockpit, with my wife and daughter Holly sitting on my lap. And thinking, ‘Can this airline from here to 20 or 30 years to be as special as it is today? ‘
“All the flights are as good as they were on that first flight.”
“Yes, Virgin Atlantic and I were all attacked. But we all came out very strong.”
“I think we’ve proven that any critic is wrong,” he says, staring back. Then he smiles.